Steering mechanism



G; nl EsNEB. STEERING MEcHANrsM. lAPPLAICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1921.

Patented Aug. 2.9, 1922.

@by l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES Partnr STEERENG MECHANISE...

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug, 29, i922.,

Application mea aan@ 2e, 1921. serial no. 479,365.

To 'all w 710m t may concern Bc it known that l, GERHARD lrnsNen, a. citizen of the United States, resi ding at Melrose, in the county of Stearns and State of Minnesota, have invented certain nev7 kand useful Improvements in Steering Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. y

This invention relates to steering devices and more particularly to that class of structures attached to the tongue of a drawn machine or apparatus, such as a threshing machine for instance, whereby the same may be easily and quickly directed to follow the tractor or propellingmachine.

The primary object of the invention resides inthe construction of a manually operable steering mechanism designed particularly fer attachment to the tongue of a, threshing machine or the like, whereby the drawn machine may be quickly and easily turned to the left or right and turn sharp corners to properly follow in the path of the propelling machine without stopping the same and in addition permit the backing or pushing of the threshing machine in beto provide a steering apparatus capable of n igure 1 is a plan view of the device,

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof,

Fig. is a front view in section on the line 3*'3 of Fig. 1, and,

Fig. 4t is a detached perspective view of the lever guide.

leferring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 5 designates the front axle of a propelled machine such as a thresher.

The improved device which is the subject matter of the present application comprises a tongue member 6 which is substituted for the usual draft tongue of the thresher or other machine to be drawn. j

.llvtendingj transversely of the tongue member 6 and in parallel relation yto an axle 5, the latter representing the forward axle of the machine to be drawn, for instance a threshing machine, not shown, is a hood member 9 coupled by eye-bolts? and 8 to the. axle. Extending from the member 9 are obliquely directed members 15 `and 16. and bearing upon the upper and lower faces of the member 9 are straps 19 having forward extension portions 2O to bear upon the upper and lower faces of the obliquely directed i l@ 11.7 with their ends 1.8 directed rearwardly to engage the upper and lower faces of the `embers 15 and 16, and connected thereto by rivets, as shown. The, upper face of the tongue 6 is provided with a strap 24C, while another strap 1G bears upon the lowerface of the tongue and in advance of its forward end as shown at 11. At Vtheir rear ends the straps 10 and 24C extend over the member 9 and its straps 19 and are pivotally united to the latter at 25. l 1

The tongue extends between the segmental members 17 and is free to swing laterally on the pivot 25,

Supporting braces 21 are connected at one end to the member 9, preferably by the stocks of the eye-bolts 7, and bent at the other end as shown at 22 and connected to the forward ends of the members 15 and 16.

Pivoted at 26 to the strap 24 is a lever member 27 having lateral extensions 28 at its forward end as shown in Fig. 4, and with a hood or guard 27 at the pivoted end.

Bearing over the head member 28 is a lll strap 39 having an upwardly arching keeper 39. Pivoted at 35 between the members 28 and 39 are link devices 30 and 3l with the outer ends of the links pivoted at 32 respectively to thecurved strap members 1?.'

Extending loosely through the keeper and into the housing 27 is a lever member 29 and preferablyv loosely engaged by the pivot 26. The keeper is of sufficient height to permit the lever memberQS a certain degree of vertical movement, the object to be hereafter explained.

The members l? are provided with apertures to receiver a holding gin 3G to be inserted when the tongue is to be held rigidly in a central position, or when the thresher or other vehicle being drawnl straight ahead. The pins 36 prevent the side movement of the steering mechanism, but when once removed upon operating' the lever 29 to the left or right, the entire frame work or quadrant above referred to may be turned with respect to the tongue 6, and since the loose connection between the machine and the propelled 'tractor machine permits the saine to be turned to the right or left, the action being easily accomplished by operatthe lever 29 in the manner above set forth. The lever 29 may be of any length desired, but will be as long as convenient as the greater the leverage the easier the operation. The frame work of the mechanism proper is sofreenforced by the top and bottom plates l() and 24 that all danger of the same being broken is eliminated, and since the same may be constructed of wood if so desired, the device may be cheaply manufactured and installed without considerable skill or labor on various-types of machines, since all gearing has been dispensed with.

ln the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated my invent-ion embodied in one form by way'of example, and which in practice has been found 'to be :highly satisfactory in obtaining the desired results. It will be obvious however that other embodiments may be adopted and that various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to by those skilled in the vart wthout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is furthermore understood that the invention is Vnot necessarily limited or restricted to the precise elements shown except in so far as such limitations are specified in the subject matter being claimed. y

Having shown and'described the invention, what l now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the U. S. is

l. ln a device of the class described, a transverse head member adapted to be coupled to the machine to be moved and having diverging side members, segmental plates in spaced relation and connected to the free ends of said diverging members, a draft tongue pivotally coupled to said transverse member and extending between said spaced segmental plates and movable laterally between the same, a lever member pivoted at one end relative to said tongue, a keeper dcvice loosely engaged by said lever member, and links connected respectively to said keeper device and to said diverging members.

2. ln a device of the class described, a transverse head member adapted to be coupled to the machine to be moved and having vdiverging side members, segmental plates in vspaced relation and connected to the free ends of said diverging'members, a. draft tongue pivot-ally coupled to said transverse Vmember and extending between said spaced segmental plates and movable laterally between the same, a bar pivoted at one end to the ltongue and having laterally directed projections at the free end, a keeper de*- vire att ched to said projections and including an upwardly directed guide portion,

4an operating lever pivoted at one end to tongue, a keeper device loosely engaged by said lever member, and links connected re- `spectively to said keeper and toA said diverging members.

In testimony whereof, I afiiX my signature hereto.

GERHARD RIESNER. 

